Shipping container for a bottle of radioactive material

ABSTRACT

A shipping container for a bottle of radioactive material comprises a can having a safe therein for receiving the bottle, a screw cap for the can and the safe, and an annular bottle retainer extending downwardly in the safe from its upper end having an outwardly extending flange at its upper end clamped between the cap and the upper end of the safe and an inwardly extending flange at its lower end receiving the neck of the bottle. The cap carries a sponge to absorb spillage from the bottle.

United States Patent Soldan May 6, 1975 3,531,644 9/1970 Koster 250/507Primary ExaminerHarold A. Dixon [75] Inventor: Donald W. Soldan, St.Louis, Mo. I

Attorney, Agent, or F1rmKoen1g, Senmger, Powers [73] Assignee:Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, St. d L m Louis, Mo.

[22] Filed: Apr. 12, 1973 57 ABSTRACT PP N01 350,402 A shippingcontainer for a bottle of radioactive material comprises a can having asafe therein for receiving U S' CL I I I I I u 7; the bottle, a screw f!the C13 and the safe, an 51 Int. Cl. GZlf /00 annular 9 K dowrward'y W[58] Field of Search H 250/432, 433 496 506, safe from its upper endhaving an outwardly extending 250/507; 220/17 flange at its upper endclamped between the cap and the upper end of the safe and an inwardlyextending [56] References Cited flange at its lower endrecetivingt'thebneclilof tll e bottLe. UNITED STATES PATENTS boteilgapcarries a sponge 0 a sor sp1 age rom e 3,256,441 6/l966 Grasty 220/173,347,403 /196" Lehrman 220/17 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 57 4s 6s a 5;/7 f l I? x r\ me e /7 l l r i l 2 l l l i 1 ll 2 2 ill 1 1 1 l 1 fSHEEIIUF 4 FIG.

PATENTEDMAY 5x915 SIEEIZBF 4 FIG.2

SHIPPING CONTAINER FOR A BOTTLE OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to shipping containers, and moreparticularly to such a container for a bottle containing a radioactivematerial such as a radioactive pharmaceutical product.

The invention is in the same field as the container shown in thecoassigned US. Pat. No. 3,531,644.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the several objects of this invention maybe noted the provision of an improved shipping container having a safetherein for the safe transport and storage of a bottle containing aradioactive material, such as a radioactive pharmaceutical, which, whileadapted to retain the bottle in the safe when the safe is inverted forsuctioning out the bottle contents via a needle, also enables withdrawalof the bottle from the safe for reading the label on the bottle withoutundue danger from radiation; the provision of such a container whereinpart of the bottle retainer is also utilized to provide a seal betweenthe closure of the container and the safe; and the provision of such acontainer with means enabling removal of the screw cap of a screw-capbottle while the bottle remains in the safe.

In general, a shipping container of this invention comprises an outercontainer having an open top and a receptacle constituting a safe withinthe outer container, the safe being open at the top for receiving abottle. A closure is removably secured to said outer container forclosing the top of the safe, and a bottle retainer is removably mountedin the safe extending downwardly in the safe from the upper end of thelatter having an upper end portion disposed between the closure and theupper end of the safe and a lower end portion formed relatively closelyto receive the neck of a bottle in the safe.

Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointedout hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a vertical section of ashipping container embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are horizontal sections on lines 22 and 3-3,respectively, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section similar to FIG. 1 showing a modification;

FIG. 5 illustrates the use of a cap-removing tool in conjunction withthe FIG. 4 modification; and

FIG. 6 is a partial right-side view of a tool illustrated in FIG. 5.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1-3, thereis generally indicated at l a shipping container of this invention forholding a bottle indicated in phantom at 3, the bottle containing aradioactive material. The shipping container 1 comprises an outercontainer 5 having an open top or upper and indicated at 7, and areceptacle 9 constituting a safe within the outer container, the safebeing open at its upper end 11 to receive the bottle 3. A closure 13 isremovably secured to the outer container 5 for closing the top of thesafe 9 (and container 5), and a bottle retainer 15 is removably mountedin the safe 9, extending downwardly in the safe from the upper endthereof. The bottle retainer 15 has an upper end portion 17 disposedbetween the closure 13 and the upper end 11 of the safe 9 and a lowerend portion 19 formed relatively closely to receive the neck of thebottle 3 in the safe.

The outer container 5 is constituted simply by a can having acylindrical body 21 of fibreboard or any other suitable material (itneed not be radiation-shielding) having a sheet metal bottom 23. Theclosure 13 is a screw cap type of closure and the body of the can isexteriorly screw-threaded at the top as indicated at 25 for screwing onthe closure. The safe 9 has a lower cylindrical portion 27 of smalleroutside diameter than the inside diameter of container 5, a raisedbottom 29 (which may be formed integrally with portion 27), and anenlarged upper portion 31 including an upper cylindrical rim 33 having arelatively close fit in the can and flaring transitions 35 and 37 fromthe upper end of the lower portion 27 to the lower end of the uppercylindrical rim 33. The height of the safe corresponds generally to theheight of the can 5 so that the upper edge I] of the rim is generally atthe same level as the upper edge of the can body 21. The lower portion27 of the safe is of slightly greater diameter than the bottle, and ofsuch height that the shouldered portion 39 and the neck 41 of the bottleproject up out of the lower portion 27.

For holding bottles containing relatively highly radioactive material,the safe may be made of lead or other suitable radiation shieldingmaterial. For holding bottles containing materials of relatively lowradioactivity, the safe may be molded of polyethylene or other suitableplastic material.

Generally, for shipment of a bottle of a given radioactive material, aselection will be made of a lead safe of appropriate thickness, or apolyethylene safe, whichever will meet the requirements of the US.Department of Transportation's regulations for shipment of hazardousmaterials, and whichever is the most economical to use. Lead safes maybe supplied in two thicknesses, for example, one-eighth or one-quarterinch.

The closure 13 comprises a sheet metal screw cap having a circularscrew-threaded rim 43 adapted to be screwed down on the upper end of thecan 5. For use with a lead safe in the can, there is provided on theinside of the cap 13 (Le, on its bottom) a shield constituted by a disk45 of lead or other suitable radiationshielding material. In conjunctionwith the use of a polyethylene safe holding a bottle containing amaterial of relatively low radioactivity, this disk may be omitted.There is also provided on the bottom of the cap (below the disk 45) asponge 47 composed of suitable plastic sponge material, for example, forabsorbing spillage from the bottle 3. The lead shield or disk 45 and thesponge 47 are held captive to the cap by a retainer 49, which may bemolded of polyethylene or other suitable plastic, secured at its upperend to the cap and having an annular skirt 5] of inverted frustoconicalform extending downwardly on the outside of the sponge 47 with aninwardly extending annular flange 53 at the lower end of the skirtholding up the sponge. The retainer has an outwardly extending annularflange 55 at the upper end of the skirt 51 and an upwardly extending rim57 at the periphery of flange 55 extending around the disk and fittingin and suitably secured (as by having a snap fit) in the rim 43 of thecap above the threads of the rim 43. The disk 45 has an annular flange59 extending downwardly on the inside of the skirt 51 of the retainer 49for shielding against radially outwardly directed radiation.

The sponge 47 has a recess 61 in its lower end for reception of theupper end of the bottle 3, the central opening 63 defined by the bottomflange 53 of the retainer 49 having its diameter corresponding generallyto that of the recess 61 for passage of the upper end of the bottle. Thesponge, as illustrated, is conveniently formed in two parts, an uppersolid circular part 65 and a lower ring 67, the opening in the latterproviding the recess 61.

The bottle retainer 15, which is preferably molded of polyethylene orother suitable plastic, has an annular skirt 69 extending downwardly inthe upper part 31 of the safe 9, this skirt having an upper cylindricportion 71 having a relatively tight fit in the upper cylindric rimportion 33 of the safe, and below that, a portion 73 of invertedfrustoconical form fitting in portion 37 of the safe. The skirt 69 hasan outwardly extending annular flange at its upper end constituting thestated upper end portion 17 of retainer 15, and a bottom wallconstituting its stated lower end portion 19. The latter has an opening75 having a hexagonal central portion 77 for receiving the neck of thebottle, and slits 79 extending radially outwardly from the centralportion forming resilient tongues 81 adapted to grip the neck 41 of thebottle.

The bottle 3 illustrated in FIG. 1 is of a type referred to as anintravenous bottle having a rubber stopper adapted to be pierced by atubular needle for withdrawal of its contents, the plug being covered bya cap of metallic foil which is crimped under the usual lip or finish"at the mouth of the bottle. As shown in FIG. 1, the bottle is receivedin the safe 9 with its neck extending up into the enlarged upper endportion 31 of the safe. The bottle retainer 15 is fitted in the safe,the neck of the bottle entering the opening 75 via bending of thetongues 81, the retainer 15 being pushed down to the point where itsupper end flange 17 engages the upper end 11 of the safe 9 (and theupper end of the can The cap 13, along with shielding disk 45 and sponge47 held captive thereto by retainer 49, is screwed down on the can tothe point where flange 17 is compressed downwardly by flange 55 againstthe upper end of the safe to provide a seal. The upper end of the bottleis received in the recess 61 in the sponge 47.

As will be apparent, the bottle retainer functions generally resilientlyto hold the bottle centered in the safe, and with appropriatedimensioning such that tongues 81 engage the upper end of the shoulder(or lower on the shoulder), it also functions generally resiliently tohold the bottle down against the bottom 29 of the safe for safeshipment. Further, it enables relatively safe removal of the bottle fromthe safe to read the label on the bottle. For this purpose, upon theremoval of the cap 13, the clinician may place his thumbnail, or a tool(not shown) if preferred, under the flange 17 of the bottle retainer 15and pry or lift the bottle retainer in order to interrupt the grippingengagement between the upper portion 71 of the bottle retainer and therim portion 33 of the safe 9. When the retainer 15 is loosened, theclinician may then grasp the bottle retainer flange l7 and lift thebottle retainer 15 thereby to lift the bottle out of the safe 9 so thathe may read the labeling information on the bottle. When the clinicianeffects the concerted displacement movement of the bottle 3 and retainer15, it should be noted that the clinicians fingers are gripping theretainer flange 17, which is a substantial distance above the bottle;thus the clinician is relatively safe from the radiations of theradioactive material in the bottle. The clinician may thereafter returnthe bottle 3 and retainer 15 toward their original positions in the safe9 and apply a downward force on the retainer grippingly to reengage itsupper portion with the rim portion 33 of the safe.

When the clinician desires to extract radioactive material from thebottle 3, the can 5 may be inverted to invert the bottle, whilemaintaining safe 9 in the can 5. inversion of the bottle may bedesirable to avoid extraction of air along with the radioactive materialvia the usual tubular needle pierced through the bottle stopper (notshown). When the can 5 and safe 9 are inverted, the retainer end wall 19functions to hold up the bottle, and also to resist the retraction forceof the needle being withdrawn from the stopper of the bottle.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, a shipping container 101 is shown havingsubstantially the same component parts and functioning in the samemanner as the previously described shipping container 1 with thefollowing exceptions:

Container 101 is particularly adapted to hold a socalled oral solutionbottle, indicated in phantom at 103 having a screw cap 105. The neck ofthe bottle is grippingly engaged by the bottle retainer lower end flange19. The base portion of the bottle is received in a recess 107 in aresilient insert or bottle socket 109 (made of rubber, for example)which has a tight fit in the lower portion 27 of the safe. With thebottle 103 so positioned in the insert in the safe 9, the sponge 47 isengaged with the bottle cap and exerts some pressure on the bottleresiliently to hold it against heightwise movement in the safe. Forunscrewing the cap 105 from the bottle 103, there is provided a tool 111in the form of a wrench having a socket 113 provided with a resilientinsert 115 (made of rubber, for example) having a recess 117 therein.The socket is placed over the cap 105 to enter the cap in the recess 117and the clinician then applies a slight downwardly directed force on thewrench to urge the insert into gripping engagement with the cap and alsourge the bottle 103 into gripping engagement with the safe insert 107.Then, the clinician turns the wrench while maintaining the downwardlydirected force in order to unscrew the cap 105 from the bottle 103 whilethe bottle remains in the safe 9. The resilient gripping engagementbetween the bottle and safe insert 107 prevents rotation of the bottlerelative to the safe 9, and the resilient gripping engagement betweenthe wrench insert 111 and the cap 105 effects unscrewing of the cap fromthe bottle.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

l. A shipping container for a bottle which contains a radioactivematerial, the bottle having a neck, said container comprising an outercontainer having an open top,

a receptacle constituting a safe within the outer container, said safebeing open at the top for receiving a bottle,

a closure removably secured to said outer container for closing the topof the safe,

and a bottle retainer removably mounted in the safe extending downwardlyin the safe from the upper end of the latter having an upper end portiondisposed between the closure and the upper end of the safe and a lowerend portion formed relatively closely to receive the neck of a bottle inthe safe, said closure, when secured to said outer container positivelyholding said safe and said retainer in position within the outercontainer, said closure havin g means on the bottom thereof forabsorbing spillage from the bottle, said absorbing means comprisingsponge means held captive to the closure and having a recess in itslower end for reception of the upper end of the bottle.

2. A shipping container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the safe isformed of radiation-shielding material and the closure comprises a capfitting on the upper end of the outer container, a disk ofradiation-shielding material in the cap, the sponge means extending downfrom the disk, and having a retainer for holding the disk in the capwith the sponge means extending down from the disk.

3. A shipping container as set forth in claim 2 wherein the retainer forthe disk and sponge means has an annular skirt extending downwardly onthe outside of the sponge means, the upper end of the skirt beingsecured to the cap, the skirt having an inwardly extending annularflange at its lower end holding the sponge means, the latter flangedefining an opening for reception of the upper end of the bottle.

4. A shipping container as set forth in claim 3 wherein said bottleretainer has an annular skirt extending downwardly in the safe, theskirt having an outwardly extending annular flange at its upper endconstituting said upper end portion disposed between the closure and theupper end of the safe, and a bottom wall constituting said lower endportion having an opening adapted relatively closely to receive the neckof the bottle, and the skirt of the retainer for the disk and spongemeans has an outwardly extending annular flange at its upper endengaging the bottom margin of the disk and sealing downwardly againstthe flange of the bottle retainer.

5. A shipping container as set forth in claim 4 wherein the disk has adownwardly extending flange on the inside of the skirt of the retainerfor the disk and sponge means.

6. A shipping container as set forth in claim 5 wherein the outercontainer is cylindrical, and the safe has a lower portion of smallerdiameter than the outer container for relative close fit of a bottletherein, and an enlarged upper portion accommodating said retainers andsponge means.

7. A shipping container for a bottle which contains a radioactivematerial, the bottle having a neck, said container comprising an outercontainer having an open top,

a receptacle constituting a safe within the outer container, said safebeing open at the top for receiving a bottle,

a closure removably secured to said outer container for closing the topof the safe,

and a bottle retainer removably mounted in the safe extending downwardlyin the safe from the upper end of the latter having an upper end portiondisposed between the closure and the upper end of the safe and a lowerend portion formed relatively closely to receive the neck of a bottle inthe safe, wherein the closure comprises a cap fitting on the upper endof the outer container, sponge means for absorbing spillage from thebottle extending down from the cap, and a retainer for holding thesponge means captive to the closure,

and wherein the retainer for the sponge means has an annular skirtextending downwardly on the outside of the sponge means, the upper endof the skirt being secured to the cap, the skirt having an inwardlyextending annular flange at its lower end holding the sponge means, thelatter flange defining an opening for reception of the upper end of thebottle.

8. A shipping container as set forth in claim 7 wherein said bottleretainer has an annular skirt extending downwardly in the safe, theskirt having an outwardly extending annular flange at its upper endconstituting said upper end portion disposed between the closure and theupper end of the safe, and a bottom wall constituting said lower endportion having an opening adapted relatively closely to receive the neckof the bottle, and the skirt of the retainer for the sponge means has anoutwardly extending annular flange at its upper end engaging the bottommargin of the disk and sealing downwardly against the flange of thebottle retainer.

9. A shipping container as set forth in claim 8 wherein the outercontainer is cylindrical, and the safe has a lower portion of smallerdiameter than the outer container for relative close fit of a bottletherein, and an enlarged upper portion accommodating said retainers andsponge means.

1. A shipping container for a bottle which contains a radioactivematerial, the bottle having a neck, said container comprising an outercontainer having an open top, a receptacle constituting a safe withinthe outer container, said safe being open at the top for receiving abottle, a closure removably secured to said outer container for closingthe top of the safe, and a bottle retainer removably mounted in the safeextending downwardly in the safe from the upper end of the latter havingan upper end portion disposed between the closure and the upper end ofthe safe and a lower end portion formed relatively closely to receivethe neck of a bottle in the safe, said closure, when secured to saidouter container positively holding said safe and said retainer inposition within the outer container, said closure having means on thebottom thereof for absorbing spillage from the bottle, said absorbingmeans comprising sponge means held captive to the closure and having arecess in its lower end for reception of the upper end of the bottle. 2.A shipping container as set forth in claim 1 wherein the safe is formedof radiation-shielding material and the closure comprises a cap fittingon the upper end of the outer container, a disk of radiation-shieldingmaterial in the cap, the sponge means extending down from the disk, andhaving a retainer for holding the disk in the cap with The sponge meansextending down from the disk.
 3. A shipping container as set forth inclaim 2 wherein the retainer for the disk and sponge means has anannular skirt extending downwardly on the outside of the sponge means,the upper end of the skirt being secured to the cap, the skirt having aninwardly extending annular flange at its lower end holding the spongemeans, the latter flange defining an opening for reception of the upperend of the bottle.
 4. A shipping container as set forth in claim 3wherein said bottle retainer has an annular skirt extending downwardlyin the safe, the skirt having an outwardly extending annular flange atits upper end constituting said upper end portion disposed between theclosure and the upper end of the safe, and a bottom wall constitutingsaid lower end portion having an opening adapted relatively closely toreceive the neck of the bottle, and the skirt of the retainer for thedisk and sponge means has an outwardly extending annular flange at itsupper end engaging the bottom margin of the disk and sealing downwardlyagainst the flange of the bottle retainer.
 5. A shipping container asset forth in claim 4 wherein the disk has a downwardly extending flangeon the inside of the skirt of the retainer for the disk and spongemeans.
 6. A shipping container as set forth in claim 5 wherein the outercontainer is cylindrical, and the safe has a lower portion of smallerdiameter than the outer container for relative close fit of a bottletherein, and an enlarged upper portion accommodating said retainers andsponge means.
 7. A shipping container for a bottle which contains aradioactive material, the bottle having a neck, said containercomprising an outer container having an open top, a receptacleconstituting a safe within the outer container, said safe being open atthe top for receiving a bottle, a closure removably secured to saidouter container for closing the top of the safe, and a bottle retainerremovably mounted in the safe extending downwardly in the safe from theupper end of the latter having an upper end portion disposed between theclosure and the upper end of the safe and a lower end portion formedrelatively closely to receive the neck of a bottle in the safe, whereinthe closure comprises a cap fitting on the upper end of the outercontainer, sponge means for absorbing spillage from the bottle extendingdown from the cap, and a retainer for holding the sponge means captiveto the closure, and wherein the retainer for the sponge means has anannular skirt extending downwardly on the outside of the sponge means,the upper end of the skirt being secured to the cap, the skirt having aninwardly extending annular flange at its lower end holding the spongemeans, the latter flange defining an opening for reception of the upperend of the bottle.
 8. A shipping container as set forth in claim 7wherein said bottle retainer has an annular skirt extending downwardlyin the safe, the skirt having an outwardly extending annular flange atits upper end constituting said upper end portion disposed between theclosure and the upper end of the safe, and a bottom wall constitutingsaid lower end portion having an opening adapted relatively closely toreceive the neck of the bottle, and the skirt of the retainer for thesponge means has an outwardly extending annular flange at its upper endengaging the bottom margin of the disk and sealing downwardly againstthe flange of the bottle retainer.
 9. A shipping container as set forthin claim 8 wherein the outer container is cylindrical, and the safe hasa lower portion of smaller diameter than the outer container forrelative close fit of a bottle therein, and an enlarged upper portionaccommodating said retainers and sponge means.